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The Science of Dune
An Unauthorized Exploration into the Real Science behind Frank Herbert's Fictional Universe (Science of Pop Culture series)
Delving into the world of Dune, this guide offers fascinating scientific speculation on topics including physics, chemistry, ecology, evolution, psychology, technology, and genetics. It also scrutinizes Frank Herbert’s science fiction world by asking questions such as Is the ecology of Dune realistic? Is it theoretically possible to get information from the future? Could humans really evolve as Herbert suggests? and Which of Herbert’s inventions have already come to life? This companion to the Dune series is a must-have for any fan who wants to revisit this science fiction world and explore it even further.
Delving into the world of Dune, this guide offers fascinating scientific speculation on topics including physics, chemistry, ecology, evolution, psychology, technology, and genetics. It also scrutinizes Frank Herbert’s science fiction world by asking questions such as Is the ecology of Dune realistic? Is it theoretically possible to get information from the future? Could humans really evolve as Herbert suggests? and Which of Herbert’s inventions have already come to life? This companion to the Dune series is a must-have for any fan who wants to revisit this science fiction world and explore it even further.
248 pages, Paperback
First published December 11, 2007
54 people are currently reading
751 people want to read
About the author
Kevin R. Grazier
13 books6 followersDr. Kevin Grazier holds the duel titles of Investigation Scientist and Science Planning Engineer for the Cassini/Huygens Mission to Saturn and Titan at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. He earned B.S. degrees in computer science and geology from Purdue University, and a B.S. in physics from Oakland University. He earned his M.S. in physics from Purdue, and then went to UCLA for his doctoral research in planetary physics. At JPL he has written mission planning and analysis software that won numerous JPL- and NASA-wide awards. Dr. Grazier still continues research involving computer simulations of Solar System dynamics, evolution, and chaos.
Dr. Grazier is also currently the Science Advisor for the animated educational TV series The Zula Patrol, and for the SciFi Channel series Eureka and Battlestar Galactica. He recently served as editor and contributing author for the books The Science of Dune and the Science of Michael Crichton for the BenBella Publishing Science of Popular Culture series.
Info from http://www.mikebrotherton.com/diamond...
Dr. Grazier is also currently the Science Advisor for the animated educational TV series The Zula Patrol, and for the SciFi Channel series Eureka and Battlestar Galactica. He recently served as editor and contributing author for the books The Science of Dune and the Science of Michael Crichton for the BenBella Publishing Science of Popular Culture series.
Info from http://www.mikebrotherton.com/diamond...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 18, 2018
As a fan of the Dune saga, I must say that unfortunately this book is not what I expected. It's composed of some interesting essays on interstellar travel that occur in the universe of Dune, as well as on the different ecological systems of different planets, etc... not that it's a bad book in itself, but being composed of several essays by different authors makes it lack a unifying tone, some essays have a humorous touch, while others have a somewhat narrower focus.
In any case, I find this book somewhat informative. Maybe the problem is that I had high expectations about it.
In any case, I find this book somewhat informative. Maybe the problem is that I had high expectations about it.
August 31, 2025
The Science of Dune takes the legendary world of Frank Herbert’s Dune and looks at it through the lens of modern science. This is not a retelling of the story, but rather a deep dive into whether the great ideas Herbert explored could exist, or at least be imagined, in the real universe. The book is made up of essays by scientists, scholars, and experts, all of them tackling different aspects of the saga.
The focus ranges from the ecology of Arrakis, to the biology of the sandworms, to the possibility of creating and controlling something as powerful as the spice melange. There are discussions on physics, genetics, and even human evolution, all tied back to the themes Herbert wove into his universe. What works so well is how these essays respect the source material while also treating it with critical analysis.
Herbert built his saga around complex, layered ideas—religion, politics, ecology—and this book shows just how much real-world science shaped his thinking. The ecological balance of Arrakis, for example, is not simply a fantasy but rooted in real environmental science. The sections on human potential, like the Bene Gesserit’s control of their bodies or the mentats replacing computers, push the discussion into how close—or how far—we are from such abilities.
This is a book that will appeal not only to science fiction fans but to anyone who enjoys seeing how imagination and science can spark off each other. It is also worth noting that it doesn’t try to “prove” Dune’s science is all real, but rather explores what could be possible and what remains purely speculative.
In the broader sense, The Science of Dune shows how influential Herbert’s creation has been. It is rare for a science fiction work to receive this level of scientific attention, and it highlights how deeply Dune has embedded itself into both popular culture and intellectual discussion.
For anyone who loves Dune and wants to take a step further into its ideas, this book is worth picking up. It deepens appreciation for Herbert’s masterpiece and shows just how forward-thinking he was when he created his desert world.
The focus ranges from the ecology of Arrakis, to the biology of the sandworms, to the possibility of creating and controlling something as powerful as the spice melange. There are discussions on physics, genetics, and even human evolution, all tied back to the themes Herbert wove into his universe. What works so well is how these essays respect the source material while also treating it with critical analysis.
Herbert built his saga around complex, layered ideas—religion, politics, ecology—and this book shows just how much real-world science shaped his thinking. The ecological balance of Arrakis, for example, is not simply a fantasy but rooted in real environmental science. The sections on human potential, like the Bene Gesserit’s control of their bodies or the mentats replacing computers, push the discussion into how close—or how far—we are from such abilities.
This is a book that will appeal not only to science fiction fans but to anyone who enjoys seeing how imagination and science can spark off each other. It is also worth noting that it doesn’t try to “prove” Dune’s science is all real, but rather explores what could be possible and what remains purely speculative.
In the broader sense, The Science of Dune shows how influential Herbert’s creation has been. It is rare for a science fiction work to receive this level of scientific attention, and it highlights how deeply Dune has embedded itself into both popular culture and intellectual discussion.
For anyone who loves Dune and wants to take a step further into its ideas, this book is worth picking up. It deepens appreciation for Herbert’s masterpiece and shows just how forward-thinking he was when he created his desert world.
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May 4, 2013This is a good read for Dune fans with an interest in science, and who wonder about the scientific possibility of folding space, breeding superhumans, or creating gholas. It's a collection of essays by different authors, so you can read cover-to-cover or pick and choose your topics. In the interest of full disclosure, I wrote two of the essays. But I would have read this book anyway, since I'm a huge Dune fan.
February 10, 2008
I found the essays in this collection to be somewhat uneven and sometimes shallow, but there are exceptions, and the chapter about the likelihood and conditions of life on the planets that Herbert postulated to orbit real stars in our universe is one of them. It's definitely worth plunking yourself down in a Barnes & Noble or a Borders just to read this chapter alone!
July 23, 2017
Not really what I was hoping for in terms of exploring the science of Dune. Interesting essays on the state of the art (as it existed in 2008), but not terribly exciting.
November 14, 2024
Very interesting to learn what real science lies behind the fantasy and what may be inspired for the future! Great collection of essays from field experts.
February 4, 2022
Parts of this book are a little dry thus the 3 star rating, but I found it interesting overall. One problem it does have is sometimes the authors have a tendency to go off subject.
July 12, 2014
Just like any book that has multiple contributions by multiple authors, it was a bit hit or miss. If you're a fan of Dune, this book definitely goes into the science behind some of the questions you've likely asked yourself while reading.
December 22, 2013
very good.
February 7, 2015
you better really like Dune if you are going to read this
May 28, 2012
I think the Science of Battlestar Galactica was better
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews